from the urls-we-dig-up dept

Glass is a material that has been known to people since before 2000 BC (and as far back as 3500 BC). It's everywhere now. We even carry around smartphones with glass touchscreens. But until we come up with "transparent aluminum" to replace glass (that's not just transparent to extreme UV light), we're still working with silica and certain polymers to make cool transparent materials. Here are just a few examples demonstrating the future of windows.

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

History used to be defined by materials: the Stone Age, the Bronze Age, the Iron Age, etc. We don't really do that anymore... now that there are so many novel composite materials with properties that far surpass simple alloys or ceramics. Still, the development of new materials is important to creating items/gadgets that are thinner, lighter and/or safer. For your reading pleasure, here are just a few more examples of materials that could help improve our lives.

from the urls-we-dig-up dept

We've come a long way from the Bronze Age, folks. Nanotubes and metal foams may soon become commonplace materials. Petroleum-based plastics are sooo boring now. Okay, not really, it could make a comeback just like Gorilla Glass. Materials never really go out of style, and here are a few links to prove it.